PTA Confirms The Deduction of Charges on Prepaid Recharge

PTA has confirmed the deduction of charges on prepaid reloads and tariffs. With regard to taxes on prepaid balance recharge, it is reported that Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) deduct only withholding tax and General Sales Tax / Federal Excise Duty on prepaid recharge  after the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan restored taxes from April 2019. 

On the recharge of Rs. 100, the user’s balance is Rs. 88.889 (and not Rs. 76 as stated on social media) after deduction of Rs. 11.111 from withholding tax @ 12.5 percent.  

GST @19.5 percent is levied on the basis of per call, SMS and data usage. When a customer spends his remaining Rs. 88.889 balance, a minimum of Rs. 14.505 deducts as GST. Because of lack of clarity on GST deduction in addition to withholding tax, users are assuming that CMOs are charging well above applicable taxes, which is not true.  

In addition, PTA has placed a call setup charges ceiling @Rs. 0.15 per call. PTA is diligent with regard to the rates / tariffs charged by CMOs, and any recorded instance of charging above published tariffs and applicable taxes will be implemented in compliance with legislation.